SpaceX looking to launch May 19

May 4, 2012

Written by

James Dean

FLORIDA TODAY

SpaceX is now targeting a May 19 launch of a Falcon 9 rocket and a Dragon capsule bound for the International Space Station.

The company and NASA are completing reviews of the software that will control the Dragon’s flight during an automated rendezvous and berthing with the station, a process that has delayed the mission previously targeted for launch May 7.

“Thus far, no issues have been uncovered during this process, but with a mission of this complexity, we want to be extremely diligent,” said company spokeswoman Kirstin Grantham.

The company has submitted a request to the Air Force to launch May 19, with May 22 as a backup date. A launch on the 19th from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station would be at 4:55 a.m.

With the 12-day delay, there should be a full crew of six people on board the station during Dragon’s visit, instead of three. American Joe Acaba and two Russian cosmonauts are due to launch from Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz spacecraft late May 14 Eastern time, arriving at the station early May 17.